Editing Cheesehead

{{short description|Nickname for people from Wisconsin}}
{{For|the screw head shape|Cheese head (screw)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox phrase
| title         = Cheesehead
| image         = Cheeseheads_in_Stadium_(14819823518).jpg
| image_size     = 
| alt            = A man wearing a cheesehead hat in a football stadium
| caption        = A [[Green Bay Packers|Packers]] fan wearing Cheesehead hat 
| origin         = Sports
| meaning        = {{ubl|Person from Wisconsin|Fan of the [[Green Bay Packers]]}}
| original_form  = Derogatory term, now a common nickname
| context        = Wisconsin is "America's Dairyland" 
| coined_by      = 
}}
'''Cheesehead''' is a nickname in the United States for a person from [[Wisconsin]]<ref>Kapler, Joseph, Jr. "[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/43274 On Wisconsin Icons: When You Say 'Wisconsin', What Do You Say?]" ''Wisconsin Magazine  of History'', vol. 85, no. 3 (Spring 2002), pp. 18–31.</ref> or for a fan of the [[Green Bay Packers]].

==Background==
Wisconsin is associated with cheese because the state historically produced more [[dairy product]]s than other American states, giving it the nickname "America's Dairyland".<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fVoYAAAAIAAJ |title= Nicknames and sobriquets of U.S. cities, States, and counties |first1= Joseph Nathan |last1= Kane |first2= Gerard L. |last2= Alexander |publisher= Scarecrow Press |year= 1979 |page= 412 |isbn= 9780810812550 |quote= Wisconsin – America's Dairyland, The Badger State ... The Copper State ...}}</ref> The use of the term "Cheesehead" as a derogatory word for Wisconsinites originated with [[Illinois]] [[American football|football]] and [[baseball]] fans to refer to opposing Wisconsin sports fans. The term, however, was quickly embraced by Wisconsinites and is now a point of pride.<ref>{{Citation | title = Foamation: About Us | url = http://www.cheesehead.com/aboutus.asp | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090302092337/http://www.cheesehead.com/aboutus.asp | archive-date = 2009-03-02 }}.</ref>

==Other uses==
During [[World War II]], German soldiers mockingly referred to the Dutch as cheeseheads because of the [[Netherlands]]' extensive dairy farming industry. The [[Dutch language|Dutch]] term ''kaaskop'', literally "cheese head", is considered a [[Dutch profanity|profanity]] to refer to a person as stupid or dense.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCollum |first1=Maureen |title=Why Do People Wear Cheeseheads? |url=https://www.wpr.org/culture/why-do-people-wear-cheeseheads |access-date=November 16, 2024 |work=WPR |date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

In the 1969 novel ''[[Papillon (book)|Papillon]]'', the term was used to describe the unsophisticated jurors who voted to convict the main character.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carlton |first1=Jeremy |title=A Chicago insult we embraced: 10 things you need to know about Cheeseheads |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/cheeseheads10things |access-date=November 16, 2024 |work=OnMilwaukee |date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>

==Cheesehead hat==
Rose Bruno first saw a cardboard "Cheesehead" hat at a [[Milwaukee Brewers]] vs. [[Chicago White Sox]] game in Chicago in 1987 worn by fellow Milwaukeean Amerik Wojciechowski.<ref>Foamation, Inc. v. Wedeward Enterprises, Inc., 947 F.Supp. 1287 (E.D. Wis. 1996)</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Cigelske |first=Tim |title=When I was 30: Michael Bednar: Cheeseheads were spreading |newspaper=[[MKE (tabloid)|MKE]] |date=September 8, 2005 |url=http://www.mkeonline.com/story.asp?id=353849 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801032944/http://www.mkeonline.com/story.asp?id=353849 |archive-date=August 1, 2007 }}.</ref> Ralph Bruno later made the first one out of foam while he was cutting up his mother's couch. It was made popular by centerfielder [[Rick Manning]], who saw the hat while playing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.espn.go.com/greg-garber/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914161518/http://search.espn.go.com/greg-garber/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2008|title=Greg Garber News, Videos, Photos, and PodCasts - ESPN|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wxow.com/story/17094560/cheesehead-hat-creator-honored-by-state|title=State honors cheesehead hat creator}}</ref> Bruno started a multi-million-dollar business to sell the hats as [[novelty item|novelties]]. The "Cheesehead" trademark is owned by Foamation, Inc. of [[St. Francis, Wisconsin]], which began manufacture of the wearable, foam "Cheesehead" in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:o6um5o.3.7 |title=Trademark Serial Number 75106687 |date=1996-05-20 |website=U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref> Along with the original Cheesehead "wedge", Foamation has made other similar "cheese" apparel, including baseball caps, cowboy hats, and earrings. In 2023, Bruno sold Foamation to the Green Bay Packers, making the Cheesehead official Packers merchandise.<ref>[https://www.tmj4.com/sports/green-bay-packers/green-bay-packers-acquire-cheesehead-hat-maker-foamation "Green Bay Packers acquire cheesehead hat-maker Foamation"], [[WTMJ-TV]], July 24, 2023.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/24/green-bay-packers-acquire-maker-cheesehead-hats/ | title = Green Bay Packers acquire maker of Cheesehead hats | date = July 24, 2023 | access-date = July 24, 2023 | website = WBAY.com }}</ref>

The Cheesehead gained attention in 1995, when Packers fan Frank Emmert Jr. was flying on a private plane back to Wisconsin after attending a Packers game against the [[Cleveland Browns]] and the plane crashed due to ice accumulation. Emmert suffered a broken ankle and other minor injuries but was saved from further serious injury when he used his Cheesehead for protection in the crash.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 November 1995 |title=Cheesehead May Have Been a Livesaver |publisher=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-11-29-9511290211-story.html |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306045426/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-11-29-9511290211-story.html |archive-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> In 2013, sports fans of Chicago replied to their rivals by wearing [[cheese grater]]s.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/12/26/cheddar-shredder/ Cheddar shredder] - Chicago Tribune, 26 December 2013</ref>

Cheesehead hats have evolved beyond sports to become a cultural and political symbol of Wisconsin. Notably, Wisconsin delegates wore Cheesehead hats at both the [[2024 Republican National Convention]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bentley |first=Drake |title='Why are people wearing cheese hats?': What to know about the Cheesehead — a Wisconsin product |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2024/07/18/what-to-know-about-the-cheesehead-a-wisconsin-product/74464495007/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=David |date=2024-07-19 |title=Wisconsin delegation dons cheesehead hats for final day of RNC |url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2024/wisconsin-delegation-dons-cheesehead-hats-for-final-day-of-rnc/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=WisPolitics |language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[2024 Democratic National Convention]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karnopp |first=Hope |title=New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sign Packers cheesehead hats at DNC |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/19/kathy-hochul-wes-moore-sign-packers-cheesehead-hats-at-dnc/74864154007/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Wagtendonk |first=Anya |date=2024-08-20 |title=Wisconsin Democrats prepare for symbolic roll call in unusual DNC |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-democrats-roll-call-convention-chicago |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=WPR |language=en-US}}</ref> to represent their state.

==See also==
*[[List of demonyms for US states and territories]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Green Bay Packers|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:1987 neologisms]]
[[Category:American regional nicknames]]
[[Category:Pejorative demonyms]]
[[Category:History of the Green Bay Packers]]
[[Category:Spectators of American football]]
[[Category:Symbols of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Wisconsin culture]]
[[Category:Novelty items]]
[[Category:Hats]]
[[Category:Sports memorabilia]]
[[Category:Cheese]]